Successful Berthing of the Demonstration Flight HTV at the ISS

The Demonstration Flight H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) was successfully berthed at the International Space Station (ISS) at 10:49 a.m. on September 18 (Japan Standard Time, JST.)

The HTV started its final approach to the ISS, and was captured by the ISS robotic arm at 4:51 a.m. on September 18 (JST.) Then at 10:49 a.m. on September 18 (JST,) the HTV was berthed at the ISS after being maneuvered by the ISS robotic arm.

The ISS onboard crew will transfer the cargo shipped in the Pressurized Carrier of the HTV to ISS. Cargo in the unpressurized carrier will be lifted out by the ISS and Kibo robotic arms to be installed onto the Kibo's Exposed Facility. More details of the cargo transfer operation will be advised as they become available.

Successful Berthing of the Demonstration Flight HTV at the ISS

The Demonstration Flight H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV), launched by the H-IIB Test Flight Launch Vehicle on September 11, 2009 from the Tanegashima Space Center, was successfully berthed at the International Space Station (ISS) at 10:49 p.m. today, on September 18 (Japan Standard Time, JST.)
The Demonstration Flight HTV was docked at the ISS through the unique Japanese method of being maneuvered by the ISS robotic arm. The HTV onboard cargo is now ready to be unloaded at the ISS.
With the successful berthing at the ISS, the HTV mission overcame the most critical point of the mission. However, the important operations of cargo transfer, departure from the ISS, and re-entry to the atmosphere still remain. We will do our utmost to successfully complete all the tasks of the mission.